as in shiver
an instance of shaking involuntarily with fear or cold
a shudder ran through him as he stepped outside into the snow
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in to shake
to make a series of small irregular or violent movements
huddled in the basement, we shuddered with fear as we heard the approaching tornado
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shudder
Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Aug. 2025
For those still concerned with the club’s lack of attention to detail, Saturday night at Fenway Park probably led to some shudders.
—Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 15 June 2025
Bryan Washington, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2025
The White House will be well aware of this fact, particularly in an environment where fiscally conservative Republicans will be shuddering at Uncle Sam’s $37 trillion (and growing) national debt.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shudder
Noun
This textural trend is known for its popularity in the 1970s, when homeowners and designers experimented with installing shag carpets on unexpected surfaces, such as ceilings and bathroom floors (shudder).
—Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Aug. 2025
For those still concerned with the club’s lack of attention to detail, Saturday night at Fenway Park probably led to some shudders.
—Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 15 June 2025
Verb
Andy sighed, shuddering between them.
—Bryan Washington, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2025
The White House will be well aware of this fact, particularly in an environment where fiscally conservative Republicans will be shuddering at Uncle Sam’s $37 trillion (and growing) national debt.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shudder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shudder
Noun
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And at the same time, while the East shivers, much of the West will bask under unusually mild to even warm weather.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
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Hiroshige’s dramatic composition contrasting nature and civilization creates a sense of movement and immediacy, and sends a shiver down the viewer’s spine—a feeling that García Sánchez also tried to capture.—
Françoise Mouly,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Whether it’s shaken, stirred, dirty, or dry, the martini remains one of the world’s most iconic and timeless drinks.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Nov. 2025
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Start the process by vigorously shaking or hanging then pounding the rug to remove loose dirt, crumbs, and other particles, then vacuum it thoroughly on both sides, using a canister vacuum with the hose or a high pile setting—and no beater bar!—
Jennifer Beck Goldblatt,
Architectural Digest,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Furman is one of a kind: a trans, devoutly Jewish former rabbinical student who’s written a book about Lou Reed and sings folk-punk songs in a mercurial tremble.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
22 May 2025
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Valeria leaves guard duties to Ellen, a grandmother with a constant tremble in her hands from her MS.—
James Grebey,
Vulture,
17 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Allen, who is 6 foot 5 and 237 pounds, jerked his head back in an effort to draw a roughing penalty on Bolton.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
3 Nov. 2025
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To that point, Olympia shouldn’t be allowed to play the jury the tear-jerking recording of Frank’s final phone call home as the water rose.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Audiences are already quivering with anticip— ation.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
29 Oct. 2025
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A-fib is an irregular, quivering or often rapid heart rhythm resulting from the heart’s upper chambers, the atria, beating out of sync with the lower chambers, the ventricles.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN Money,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The whole place was vibrating from the power of the storm.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
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At a home in eastern Jamaica, which avoided the worst of the Melissa’s impacts, Edma felt the building's concrete walls vibrate as the storm barreled across the island.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shudder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shudder. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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